Ok since I started this topic, I probably should write back...
Personally - I use crazybrowser, its just IE6 with a tabbed interface (very similar to FireBird). I always open links in new windows so I can go back, only forums do I keep in the one tab... I like a visual history written in tabs along my screen, so instead of the back button - I press F2 to go back a tab... But not all users do the same as i... So I make all my external links (CSS & XHTML Validator) link to a new window... That's about it, only external links, or links on my website which are OT... Like a subdomain or whatnot... I HATE website where every page is a new window... It shits me to tears really... it gets under my skin... That's what lead me to crazybrowser (btw - www.crazybrowser.com) It's the IE Version of Firebirds interface (middle click open new tabs & closes tabs etc...) Anyway! that's my reasoning! ----------------------------- Chris Stratford [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.neester.com ----------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: Carl Reynolds [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 5:51 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Opening pages in new windows... was Re: [WSG] XHTML (OT??) I agree with Michael and Ray that preserving the flow of information is the important idea here. I want to open links that go off site, or out of the normal flow in a new window. One example of this is if I have a page with a list of documents on various subjects, I want each document to open in a new window so that when the reader has finished reading a document, they can come back to the list page and read another if they want. I don't understand Lucian's comment that this takes away the users ability to open the document in a new window. Maybe what he is saying is that it takes away the users ability to open the document in the same window. I suppose that is the reason it is important to think before making the decision to open a new window for any link. But this is a tool like many others that can be abused or used for good and just because it CAN be abused doesn't mean we should ban it from every being used. Another perspective: I was discussing this issue recently with my business partner and he made the comment that he wished he could make EVERY link open in a new window without having to use the right button. I find this position a bit extreme, but it takes all kinds to make a world. Carl. re wrote: > > I open links to external sites in a new window as well. I think that > as long as the action is consistent throughout a site, and obvious > (all external links are displayed with an icon as well), then users > will accept it. I don't think educated or web savvy users will pass up > useful information because an external link opens up in a new window. > > I consider myself to be in your "educated (or a little web-savvy)" > category...and it has certainly never offended me that a link opens up > in a new window...on the contrary, I have found it bothersome when I > follow a link in an article, that some external site replaces the page > I was reading...and managing a site with tens of thousands of unique > visitors/month, and tens of thousands repeat visitors...I've never > heard one complaint regarding the opening of a new window. > > mho, > Ray > > > Lucian Teo wrote: > >> >> As your audience and your potential customer, you are wont to pander >> to my every need. If you take away my ability to choose whether or >> not to open your link in a new window, a new tab, or even an existing >> window, it is likely I will never come back to your site. >> >> I'm not saying that in a personal way, I'm just voicing out what most >> educated (or a little web-savvy) audiences think. It should be your >> site content and design, rather than a target _blank that keeps them >> going there. A simple shift-click brings on the new window. It is >> possibly a good idea to put those instructions for the user. >> >> Lucian Teo >> http://tribolum.com/ >> >> >> On Feb 8, 2004, at 8:45 PM, Michael Kear wrote: >> >>> >>> The reason is we go to a great deal of trouble to get users to come >>> to our >>> site and we don't want to send them away again. That's why I never >>> allow a >>> client to sign up for any of those awards sites or top 100 sites. >>> A site gets higher ratings with search engines if there are a lot of >>> other >>> sites linking to you. To get those links you usually need >>> reciprocal links, >>> but that doesn't mean you want to send your users off to those sites >>> just >>> yet. That's the reason you need to have a way to open a link but >>> still >>> keep the users in the one place. >>> >>> Another reason is if links go off to subsidiary information. You >>> still want >>> to keep the flow of the original article. For example, try reading >>> the >>> technical data relating to an update on the Microsoft site. You >>> start out >>> by reading that "this update requires the prior installation of update >>> something else". To find out if you have that update you go off to >>> that >>> link, which in turn takes you on another link and then another and >>> another, >>> and before you know it you're off down the yellow brick road and >>> have no >>> idea how to get back to the original point. If any of the pages are >>> dynamic >>> you can't use the back button. >>> >>> As a general rule, any link that takes a user outside my site, I put >>> it in a >>> new window. If it takes them somewhere in this site, I don't. >>> >>> >>> >>> Cheers >>> Mike Kear >>> Windsor, NSW, Australia >>> AFP Webworks >>> http://afpwebworks.com >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: James Ellis [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Sent: Sunday, 8 February 2004 10:46 PM >>> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Subject: Opening pages in new windows... was Re: [WSG] XHTML (OT??) >>> >>> >>> Hi >>> >>> This kind of thing should be left up to the end user. As an example >>> have >>> a look at the NASA sites at the moment -windows opening everywhere and >>> even using javascript to replace a simple target=_blank (why??). Really >>> annoying. >>> Modern browsers have an open in new window and the good ones have open >>> in new tab on the context menu. We should be letting the users (us as >>> well as others) decide where they want to open a new page as it's their >>> browsing environment. Many UA's can force all links to open in the >>> same >>> page, rendering any targeting useless. Denoting external links with >>> icons can be a good thing if you want to show a user where they will go >>> (although the status bar does that as well). >>> >>> If a user hits an external link on a page they can use the back button >>> to head back, if you want to keep state then this can be done at the >>> application level using sessions and whatnot. >>> >>> Cheers >>> James >>> >>> >>> ***************************************************** >>> The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ >>> ***************************************************** >>> >>> >>> >> >> ***************************************************** >> The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ >> ***************************************************** >> >> > > ***************************************************** > The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ > ***************************************************** > > > ***************************************************** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ ***************************************************** ***************************************************** The discussion list for http://webstandardsgroup.org/ *****************************************************
